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Effects of Climate Change on Soil Properties

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Air, Climate Change and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 July 2022) | Viewed by 9276

Special Issue Editors

Department of Soil Physics and Water Management, Institute of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Chemistry, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman O. St. 15, Budapest 1022, Hungary
Interests: hydrology; soil pollution; soil water modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Soil Physics and Water Management, Institute of Soil Sciences and Agricultural Chemistry, Centre for Agricultural Research, Herman O. St. 15, Budapest 1022, Hungary
Interests: soil genesis; spatial modelling; soil water management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Alterations in temperatures and precipitation patterns due to climate change will affect soils and ecosystems. Anthropogenic activities in the agricultural field, such as intensive farming, can amplify the deterioration of soil quality. The potential effects of climate change on soil properties might include changes in aggregate formation and stability, water-holding capacity, organic matter, cation-exchange capacity, CO2-related changes in plant growth and water use efficiency, etc., and consequently alter the biogeochemical and hydrological cycles. These changed physicochemical and biological properties of soils require strong scientific attention.

This Special Issue particularly welcomes papers investigating potential climate adaptation strategies to manage and reduce the possible harmful effects of climate change on soil properties.

Within the framework described above, this Special Issue invites original research, review, and opinion articles covering, but not limited to, the following subjects (keywords) with regards to climate change:

  • Soil hydrological changes
  • Soil physical, chemical, and biological changes due to climatic conditions
  • Biogeochemical processes
  • Mineral composition evolution
  • Organic matter formation and degradation
  • Soil-forming factors
  • Soil degradation
  • Agriculture and forestry
  • Food security

Dr. Ágota Horel
Dr. Zsófia Bakacsi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • climate change
  • soil properties
  • hydrology
  • degradation
  • biogeochemical cycles

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1294 KiB  
Article
Influence of Pig Slurry Application Techniques on Soil CO2, N2O, and NH3 Emissions
by Eszter Tóth, Márton Dencső, Ágota Horel, Béla Pirkó and Zsófia Bakacsi
Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 11107; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141711107 - 05 Sep 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1225
Abstract
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural soils can accelerate climate change, therefore, different soil fertilization techniques should be assessed before application to reduce GHG emissions. Pig slurry applications can greatly influence soil carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and [...] Read more.
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from agricultural soils can accelerate climate change, therefore, different soil fertilization techniques should be assessed before application to reduce GHG emissions. Pig slurry applications can greatly influence soil carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and ammonia (NH3) emissions of arable fields; thus, it is important to find site-specific techniques to lessen any negative environmental impacts. In this study, we examined the short-term effect of pig slurry application techniques of spreading and injection on soil greenhouse gas and NH3 emissions under different irrigation amounts. We used the dynamic chamber method with in-situ gas analyzers. Our study showed that there were elevated emissions during the first week after slurry application; however, the difference between GHG emissions of spreading and injection treatments were not significant. Elevated GHG emissions (213–338% and 250–594% in the case of CO2 and N2O emissions, respectively) were observed under dry circumstances compared to irrigated treatments, as well as significantly higher NH3 emissions occurred for surface spreading under non-irrigated (dry) circumstances compared to other treatments. There were no statistically significant differences between the soil chemistry of different application techniques. However, pig slurry increased the available nitrogen forms (ammonium- and nitrate-nitrogen), which caused N2O and NH3 peaks regardless of treatment type. Leachate chemistry was more affected by irrigation strategies than application techniques. Our study highlights the importance of soil conditions at the time of application, rather than the application technique for fertilization using pig slurry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Climate Change on Soil Properties)
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17 pages, 2561 KiB  
Article
Climate Change Alters Soil Water Dynamics under Different Land Use Types
by Ágota Horel, Tibor Zsigmond, Csilla Farkas, Györgyi Gelybó, Eszter Tóth, Anikó Kern and Zsófia Bakacsi
Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 3908; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14073908 - 25 Mar 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2201
Abstract
Land use and management affect soil hydrological processes, and the impacts can be further enhanced and accelerated due to climate change. In this study, we analyzed the possible long-term effects of different land use types on soil hydrological processes based on future climatic [...] Read more.
Land use and management affect soil hydrological processes, and the impacts can be further enhanced and accelerated due to climate change. In this study, we analyzed the possible long-term effects of different land use types on soil hydrological processes based on future climatic scenarios. Soil moisture and temperature probes were installed at four land use sites, a cropland, a vineyard, a meadow, and a forest area. Based on modeling of long-term changes in soil water content (SWC) using the HYDRUS 1D model, we found that changes in precipitation have a more pronounced effect on soil water content than changes in air temperature. Cropland is at the highest risk of inland water and SWC values above field capacity (FC). The number of days when the average SWC values are above FC is expected to increase up to 109.5 days/year from the current 52.4 days/year by 2081–2090 for the cropland. Our calculations highlight that the forest soil has the highest number of days per year where the SWC is below the wilting point (99.7 days/year), and based on the worst-case scenario, it can increase up to 224.7 days/year. However, general scenario-based estimates showed that vineyards are the most vulnerable to projected climate change in this area. Our study highlights the limitations of potential land use change for specific agricultural areas, and emphasizes the need to implement water retention measures to keep these agricultural settings sustainable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Climate Change on Soil Properties)
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13 pages, 1405 KiB  
Article
Contributions of Seasonal Rainfall to Recent Trends in Cameroon’s Cotton Yields
by Ibrahim Njouenwet, Derbetini Appolinaire Vondou, Stephanie Vanessa Ngono Ashu and Robert Nouayou
Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 12086; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112086 - 02 Nov 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1577
Abstract
Cotton yields in the Sudano-Sahelian region contribute to food security through their role in agricultural productivity. Daily precipitation data and cotton yield data were synthesized from nine agricultural regions obtained from the “Société de Développement du Coton (SODECOTON)”. The following seasonal rainfall indices—from [...] Read more.
Cotton yields in the Sudano-Sahelian region contribute to food security through their role in agricultural productivity. Daily precipitation data and cotton yield data were synthesized from nine agricultural regions obtained from the “Société de Développement du Coton (SODECOTON)”. The following seasonal rainfall indices—from Cameroon’s cotton zone—were mapped with geographic information systems for spatial analysis: wet season onset and retreat date, rainfall amount, number of rainy days, rainfall intensity (SDII), heavy-rainfall events (R95p), consecutive dry days (CDD), annual highest daily precipitation (Rx1day) and number of very heavy precipitation days (R20mm). Linear regressions were used as statistical tools for analysis. The strongest relationships were observed between cotton yields and the heavy-rainfall events, closely followed by seasonal rainfall amount. An increase in consecutive dry days (CDD) and heavy events, and a decreased seasonal rainfall amount, have a negative impact on cotton yield trends. Overall, the critical breakpoint analysis between cotton yields and all rainfall indices showed that the cotton yield was particularly negatively impacted before a 251 retreat date, 591 mm seasonal rainfall amount and 33 rainy days. By contrast, an onset date, rainfall intensity, heavy rainfall, CDD, Rx1day and R20mm of 127, 12.5 mm·day−1, 405 mm, 27 days, 67 mm and 22 days, respectively, were identified for an optimum cotton yield. These results can be used as information for agricultural activity and management, civil planning of economic activities and can also contribute to furthering our understanding of the management impacts on future food security. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Climate Change on Soil Properties)
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16 pages, 3548 KiB  
Article
Monitoring Sand Drift Potential and Sand Dune Mobility over the Last Three Decades (Khartouran Erg, Sabzevar, NE Iran)
by Mohammad Reza Rahdari and Andrés Rodríguez-Seijo
Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9050; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169050 - 12 Aug 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2805
Abstract
Aeolian sediments cover about 6% of the earth’s surface, of which 97% occur in arid regions, and these sediments cover about 20% of the world’s lands. Sand drifts can harm sensitive ecosystems; therefore, this research has aimed to study wind regimes and the [...] Read more.
Aeolian sediments cover about 6% of the earth’s surface, of which 97% occur in arid regions, and these sediments cover about 20% of the world’s lands. Sand drifts can harm sensitive ecosystems; therefore, this research has aimed to study wind regimes and the monitoring of sand drift potential and dune mobility in the Khartouran Erg (NE Iran). The study investigated 30 years of wind speed and direction to better understand sand dune mobility processes using the Fryberger and Tsoar methods. The results of the wind regime study showed that the eastern (33.4%) and northeastern (14.3%) directions were more frequent, but the study of winds greater than the threshold (6 m/s) in winter, spring, and autumn indicated the dominance of eastern and northern wind directions. Findings of calm winds showed that winters (40.4%) had the highest frequency, and summers (15%) had the lowest frequency; the annual frequency was 30%. The average wind speed in summers was the highest (4.38 m/s), and, in the winters, it was the lowest (2.28 m/s); the annual average wind speed was 3.3 m/s. The annual drift potential (DP = 173 VU) showed that it was categorized as low class, and the winds carried sand to the southwest. The monitoring of drift potential showed that there was a sharp increase between 2003 and 2008, which could have been attributed to a change in wind speeds in the region. Unite directional index, the index of directional variability, has been alternating from 0.3 to 0.6 for 30 years. Furthermore, monitoring of sand mobility recorded a value from 0.1 to 0.4, and the lowest and highest values were registered from 0.08 to 0.9, with an average of 0.27. Finally, it can be concluded that sand dunes have been fixed for a long time, and the intensity of the mobility index is affected by climate changes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Climate Change on Soil Properties)
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